Automatic mercury-dropper.



E. O. KETOHUM. AUTOMATIC MERCURY DROPPER.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 25, 1909.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

1 Inventor.-

Ernast CKetchum,

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E. C. KETGHUM AUTOMATIC MERG URY DROPPER.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNB25,1909.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

2 BHEETB-SHIIET 2.

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by Jilly.

Inventor.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST C. KETCHUM, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC MERCURY-DROPPER.

Application filed June 25, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST C. Kn'roiroM, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic MercuryDroppers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dynamo electrical machines and has for its object the production of such a machine in which the armature may be driven direct at a high velocity from a high-speed motor without endangering the displacement of any of the elements of the armature.

The particular object of the present invention is to provide a means for delivering the desired quantity of mercury or some similar liquid to the periphery of each of the disks of said armature to insure its proper lubrication.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be readily understood by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents an elevation of a machine embodying the features of this invention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the same, the cutting plane being on line 22 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of the liquidcontaining receptacle and mechanism con tained therein for selecting a desired quantity of mercury for delivery through one of the feed tubes to the armature disks. Fig. 4 represents a horizontal section of the same, the cutting plane being on line 4-4l on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a horizontal section of the same, the cutting plane being on line 55 on Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 represents a horizontal section of the same, the cutting plane being on line 6-6 on Fig. 3.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

Serial Nov 504,936.

members 11 and midway between the end pieces 10 is an intermediate member 14- on which is supported a plurality of brush holders 15, each of which is provided with a brush 16 contacting with the periphery of a disk armature l7 revoluble with the shaft 18. Each of the armature disks 17 which are of steel is provided with an annular peripheral band 18 of copper which serves to conduct the current of electricity quickly to and from all portions of the periphery of said disk. This dynamo electrical machine is constructed and operates substantially the same as that shown in a previous patent of mine, numbered 826,668, and issued July 24, 1906, the various disks of the two armatures 17 on either side of the intermediate member 14 being connected in pairs and through the brushes 16 into series, as fully explained in said prior patent. As has been disclosed in said prior patent, it was found to be advisable to pro vide the periphery of the armature disk, revoluble at such a high speed, with a thin film of amalgam of mercury or similar material. This amalgam acts as a lubricant and prevents undue wear of either the brush 16 or the annular copper ring 18 with which it contacts and even when passing over inequalities in the surface of the ring a perfect connection is assured at all times.

The present invention has for its particular object the provision of a means for supplying this thin film of amalgam of mercury to the periphery of the armature disks 17. In order to accomplish this object a receptacle 19 is secured by means of bolts 20 to the upper connecting members 11, the bottom of said receptacle being provided with a plurality of passages 21 thercthrough equi-distant from the center of said receptacle, from which passages 21 extend a plurality of tubes 22, one for each disk forming a part of the armature 17 Each of these tubes 22 is so formed as to have its delivery opening adjacent to the periphery of one of the armature disks and to one of the brushes 16 co-acting therewith.

In order to provide a means for depositing the mercury upon the periphery of each disk in the immediate vicinity of the contacting end of the brush 16*, said brush is provided with an opening therethrough near said contacting end and one of the tubes, as for instance, 22 (see Fig. 2) is extended there through with its delivery end close to the periphery of said disk. As the disk revolves in the direction of the arrow a on Fig. 2 of the drawings, any mercury deposited upon the periphery of the disk is immediately car ried to the contacting end of the brush 16* and insures an electric contact between said brush and disk under all conditions.

The receptacle 19 is provided with a cap 23 threaded to the upper end thereof and having perforations 24 therethrough for the admission of the atmosphere to act upon the amalgam of mercury or other liquid con tained within the receptacle 19. The base of the receptacle 19 is provided with a suitable central bearing 25 for a cylindrical projection 26 formed upon a revoluble member 27 within said receptacle 19 and having a stem 28 in axial alinement with said boss 26 extending through a central bearing 29 in the cap 23.

To the upper end of the stem 28 is secured a bevel gear 30 which meshes with a bevel pinion 31 on a shaft 32 mounted in a suitable bearing formed upon or secured to one of the end pieces 10 and having secured to its opposite end a bevel gear 3 1 meshing with a bevel pinion 35 secured to and revoluble with the armature shaft 13. It is obvious therefore that the revolution of the shaft 13 causes a continuous rotation of the member 27 at a much slower speed. This plate 27 is provided with a perforation 36 therethrough which is adapted to momentarily register with each of the perforations 21 leading to the tubes 22 during the revolu tion of said member 27 Above the revoluble member 27 is placed a non-revoluble plate 37 provided with a plurality of perforations 38, said perforations 38 and the perforations 21 being equal in number. This plate 37 is prevented from turning by suitable members such as the pins 39 so that the perforations 38 will be out of alinement with the perforations 21 through the bottom of the receptacle 19.

The perforation 36 in the revoluble mem ber 27 and the perforations-38 are equi-distant from the center of the revoluble mem ber 27 so that as this member revolves it momentarily registers successively with each of the perforations 38. Within the receptacle 19 between the plate 37 and the cap 23 is a spiral spring 39 adapted to act upon the plate 87 to retain its lower face continually in contact with the upper face of the revoluble member 27, thus preventing any mercury or other liquid with which the receptacle 19 is filled from entering between said plate 37 and revoluble member 27. The tension of the spring 29 may be regulated in an obvious manner by adjusting the cap 23 upon the receptacle 19.

In the operation of the invention the receptacle 19 is partially filled with mercury and when the dynamo is in operation the revolution of the shaft 1.3, tl'irough the intermediate driving mechanism, causes the rotation of the member 27. As the perforation 36 passes beneath each perforation 38 the portion of mercury or other liquid contained within said perforation 38 is permitted to pass into the perforation 36 and be conveyed thereby into register with a perforation 21 when this portion of the mercury will pass from the perforation 36 into the perforation 21 and through the tube 22 to said armature disks. This delivery of the mercury to the disk causes a film thereof to be deposited on the copper peripheral band of the disk and thereby lubricates the same and makes a perfect contact at all times with the co-acting brushes. The film of mercury is automatically constantly replenished by the portion of mercury selected from the contents of the receptacle 19 and transferred by means of the revoluble plate 27 to one or the other of the feed tubes 22 leading to the different armature disks.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the invention will be thoroughly understood from the foregoing.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a dynamo electrical machine, the combination of a revoluble member; a brush co-acting therewith; a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a tube therefrom adapted to deliver the contents of said receptacle to the periphery of said revoluble member; and means for intermittently separating a portion of said liquid from the'remainder and delivering it to said tube.

2. In a dynamo electrical machine, the combination of a revoluble member; a brush co-acting therewith; a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a tube therefrom adapted to deliver the contents of said receptacle to the periphery of said revoluble member; and means within said receptacle for automatically feeding separated portions of its contents to said tube.

3. In a dynamo electrical machine, the combination of a revoluble member; a brush co-acting therewith; a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a tube therefrom adapted to deliver the contents of said receptacle to the periphery of said revoluble member; and means within said receptacle for automatic ally separating portions of the contents of said receptacle from the remainder and delivering them intermittently to said tube.

4. In a dynamo electrical machine, the combination of a revoluble member; a brush co-acting therewith; and means for inter mittently feeding to the periphery of said revoluble member a liquid lubricant.

5. In a dynamo electrical machine, the combination of a revoluble member; a brush co -acting therewith; and means for intermlttently feeding to the periphery of said revoluble member a liquid lubricant substantially at the point of contact tl'icrewith of said brush.

6. In a dynamo electrical machine, having an armature and a brush co-acting therewith, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a tube therefrom adapted to deliver the contents of said receptacle to the periphery of said armature; and means for intermittently separating a portion of said liquid from the remainder and delivering it to said tube.

7. In a dynamo electrical machine, having an armature, an annulus revoluble therewith, and a brush eo-acting therewith, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a tube therefrom adapted to deliver the contents of said receptacle to the periphery of said annulus; and means for intermittently separating a portion of said liquid from the remainder and delivering it to said tube.

8. In a dynamo electrical machine, having an armature and a brush co-acting therewith, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a tube therefrom adapted to deliver the contents of said receptacle to the periphery of said armature; and revoluble means within said receptacle for separating from said liquid, portions thereof and delivering them to said tube.

9. In a dynamo electrical machine, having an armature and a brush co-acting there with, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a tube therefrom passing through the end of said brush adapted to deliver the contents of said receptacle to the periphery of said armature; and means within said receptacle for separating from said liquid portions thereof and de livering them to said tube.

10. In a dynamo electrical machine, having an armature and a brush co-acting therewith, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a tube therefrom adapted to deliver the contents of said receptacle to the periphery of said armature; and a revoluble member within said receptacle having a perforation therethrough adapted to register with said delivery tube momentarily during each revolution thereof.

11. In a dynamo electrical machine, having an armature and a brush co-acting therewith, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a tube therefrom adapted to deliver the contents of said receptacle to the periphery of said armature; a revoluble member within said receptacle having a perforation therethrough adapted to register with said delivery tube momentarily during each revolution thereof; and a non-revoluble late above said revoluble member provide with a perforation out of register with said delivery tube but ada ted to register momentarily with said per oration in said member during its revolution.

12. In a dynamo electrical machine, having an armature and a brush co-acting therewith, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a tube therefrom adapted to deliver the contents of said receptacle to the periphery of said armature; a revoluble member within said receptacle having a perforation therethrough adapted to register with said delivery tube momentarily during each revolution thereof; a non-revoluble plate above said revoluble member provided with a perforation out of register with said delivery tube but adapted to register momentarily with said perforation in. said member during its revolution; and a spring adapted to press said plate into contact with said revoluble member.

13. In a dynamo electrical machine, having an armature and a brush co-acting there with, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a tube therefrom adapted to deliver the contents of said rcceptacle to the periphery of said armature; a revoluble member within said receptacle having a perforation therethrough adapted to register with said delivery tube momentarily during each revolution thereof; a non-revoluble plate above said revoluble member provided with a perforation out of register with said delivery tube but adapted to register momentarily with said perforation in said member during its revolution; a spring adapted to press said plate into contact with said revoluble member; and means for regulating the tension of said spring.

14:. In a dynamo electrical machine, having an armature and a brush co-acting therewith, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a tube therefrom adapted to deliver the contents of said receptacle to the periphery of said armature; a revoluble member within said receptacle having a perforation therethrough adapt-ed to register with said delivery tube momentarily during each revolution thereof; a non-revoluble plate above said revoluble member provided with a perforation out of register with said delivery tube but adapted to register momentarily with said perforation in said member during its revolution; a spring adapted to press said plate into contact with said revoluble member; and means for rotating said member operated by the armature shaft.

15. In a dynamo electrical machine, having an armature and a brush co-acting therewith, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a tube therefrom adapted to deliver the contents of said receptacle to the periphery of said armature; a revoluble member within said receptacle having a perforation therethrough adapted to register with said delivery tube momentarily during each revolution thereof; a non revoluble plate above said revoluble member provided with a perforation out of register with said delivery tube but ada ted to register momentarily with said per oration 111 said member during its revolution; a spring adapted to press said plate into contact with said revoluble member; a gear on the shaft of said revoluble member; a gear on the armature shaft; and mechanism interposed between said gears to cause said member to be rotated by the revolution of said shaft.

16. In a dynamo electrical machine, having an armature composed of a plurality of disks and a brush holder having a plurality of brushes thereon each contacting with a different disk; a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a revoluble member within said receptacle provided with a perforation therethrough; and a plurality of tubes from said receptacle each adapted to register successively with said perforation in said member during its rotation and deliver to a different armature disk a portion of the liquid in said receptacle.

17. In a dynamo electrical machine, having an armature composed of a plurality of disks and a brush holder having a plurality of brushes thereon each contacting with a different disk; a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a revoluble member within said receptacle provided with a perforation therethrough; a plurality of tubes from said receptacle each adapted to register successively with said perforation in said member during its rotation and deliver to a different armature disk a portion of the liquid in said receptacle; and a non-revoluble plate above and contacting with said revoluble member having perforations therethrough equal to the number of delivery tubes, each of which is adapted to successively register with the perforations in said revoluble member dur ing its rotation.

18. In a dynamo electrical machine, hav ing an armature composed of a plurality of disks and a brush holder having a plurality of brushes thereon each contacting with a different disk; a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid; a revoluble member within said receptacle provided with a perforation therethrough; a plurality of tubes from said receptacle each adapted to' register successively with said perforation in said member during its rotation and deliver to a different armature disk a portion of the liquid-in said receptacle; and a non-revoluble plate above and contacting with said revoluble member having perforations therethrough equal to the number of delivery tubes but out of-register therewith, each of which is adapted to successively register with the perforations in said revoluble member during its rotation.

19. In a dynamo electrical machine, having an armature composed of a plurality of disks and a brush holder havinr aplurality of brushes thereon each contactin with a different disk; a receptacle ada te to contain a liquid; a plurality of de ivery tubes therefrom each adapted to deliver a portion of said liquid to a different armature disk; and means within said receptacle for selecting equal portions of said liquid and delivering these portions successively to said tubes.

20. In a dynamo electrical machine, having an armature and a brush co-acting therewith; a receptacle adapted to contain aliquid; a tube therefrom adapted to deliver a portion of the liquid to the periphery of said armature; and means Within said receptacle for separating a desired quantity of said liquid from the remainder and delivering it to said tube.

21. In a dynamo electrical machine, the combination of a revoluble member; a brush co-acting therewith; a receptacleadapted to contain a liquid; a tube therefrom adapted to deliver the contents of said receptacle to the periphery of said revoluble member; a pressure member within said receptacle adapted to force the liquid into said tube; and means for alternately covering and un covering the inlet to said tube.

22. In a dynamo electrical machine, the combination of a revoluble member; a brush coacting therewith; means for intermittently feeding to the periphery of said revoluble member a liquid lubricant; and means for varying the feed with the speed of the revoluble member.

Signed by'me at l Post Office Sq, Boston, Mass, this 14th 'day of April, 1909.

WALTER E. LOMBARD, NATHAN C. LOMBARD. 

